easter island statues, The island of Rapa Nui in the South Pacific, traditionally known as the moai, is home to one of the most impressive artifacts of ancient Polynesian civilization. Transporting the statues has long been a problem because they weigh several tons and are scattered across the island. Various theories have been proposed, including that they were dragged by wooden sleds or rolled along the ground, but there is no supporting evidence to support these claims.
In 2012, an American research team successfully supported and “walked” a 4.35-ton replica of the Moai statue. The technique, which involves two teams pulling the statue in opposite directions with ropes to move it precariously forward while a third team ensures it doesn't tip over, challenges conventional theories that the moai move horizontally.
The question then is how much effort would be required to move the larger moai. “Once the moai started moving, it wasn't difficult at all,” explains anthropologist Carl Libo of Binghamton University.
Lipo and his team systematically surveyed 962 Moai statues on Easter Island, focusing on 62 found along ancient roads. They recently published a paper providing strong evidence that the moai were transported in an upright position.
The team also succeeded in moving an exact replica of a roadside Moai statue 100 meters in 40 minutes using only 18 people, which was much more efficient than previous experiments.
Researchers show how the Rapa Nui people “walked” the moai.
rules of the road
Research has found that moai statues located along Rapa Nui roads share common features. The wide D-shaped base and forward tilt of the statue optimize the “walking” of the moai, even as they increase in size. In fact, people found that the moai statues abandoned on the roadside were unbalanced and showed signs of toppling during transportation.
This hypothesis is also supported by the ancient road itself, which is approximately 4.5 meters wide and has a slightly concave cross-section. Researchers believe these are ideal conditions to help the moai remain stable as they walk.
Statistical analysis of the distribution of moai revealed that 51.6% of the moai were concentrated within 2 km of the quarry from which they originated, suggesting that the exponential decay pattern is related to mechanical failure rather than intentional ritual placement. It is possible that the statues were damaged or tipped over during transportation and left in place.